9726385 Nocedal, Jorge Northwestern University Challenges in CISE: Metacomputing Environments for Optimization By combining distributed hardware, network hardware/software infrastructure, optimization tools, and informational material, this research will produce metacomputing environments for optimization powerful enough to tackle problems of unprecedented scale and complexity. The project integrates fundamental algorithmic and applications-oriented research in optimization with research in software infrastructure for distributed systems management. New algorithms that use the powerful but heterogeneous, high-latency environment of the metacomputer platform will be developed to solve key problems in targeted application areas. The optimization tools will include interfaces that link the client workstation to the metacomputer server in novel ways. The environment will be able to execute in tandem with data-gathering and modeling resources elsewhere in the network. Focus areas for the algorithmic research include combinatorial optimization, integer programming, global optimization, and nonlinear programming, with target application areas of transportation, telecommunications, molecular conformation, and weather forecasting. Software infrastructure research will focus on the resource allocation, scheduling, persistency, and security mechanisms needed to maximize the usefulness of the environment, from the viewpoint of the optimization tools and their users. The project will make use of the GUSTO metacomputing testbed being constructed by the Globus project.
